Remembering the First Time (over and over again) with Gnarly Charlies' Time Machine

Great Alexander! North Alabama’s Gnarly Charlies new EP is incredible! Confidence blazes through peaked out yells in opening track Help Myself: “She might have honey but look out she’s got a stinger!”

As fuzzy as the start of a good beard, danceable bass guitar grooves follow on I Don’t Think You’re Very Pretty, complemented by strategic tambourine that jangles almost as viciously as the retro guitar tones.  And don’t forget the gang vocals, testing the waters with Oi-Punk “Hey! Hey! Hey!” and then diving in with full on fist shaking call and answer participation.

Dark and morose, Time Machine, the five song album’s title track, gifts unique and absurdly infectious guitar hooks.  Occasional subtle sound clips, maniacal laughter, the shake of a rattle snake, accent this brooding rocker. The reverb drench melody creates a haze for listeners to get lost in where the only possible route to follow starts by closing your eyes and writhing with the music.   

Fever is reminiscent of the film That Thing You Do, only  in Gnarly Charlies’ case each member of the band must’ve kept their wayfarers on, multiplying the cool factor x4.  Primitive drums hammer through the verses with the finesse of hi-hat slips, later replaced by hand claps and a pad of doo-wop background vocals catching attention and shifting dynamic to the point of climax. 

One might mistake Gnarly Charlies as residents of the Isle of Wight with vocal timbres like those delivering the slick lyrics of the EP's closer, Shady Girl, but southern roots show when the linear note lead guitar-chops interject.  Then everything drops, sparse but sexy.  Isolated to only clean guitar and vocals, intermittent harmonies set the oh damn mood. The bass casually trickles its way back in personifying the lyrics accompanied by soulful shuffling rim clicks.  This shady girl is missing out big time.

“Then you said the feeling’s no longer there, and the tears fell through the air with an awful sound, dripping down your cheek.”

First impressions are everything.  Like the first time you meet a lady friend, unabashedly scanning from head to toe, realizing your mouth might be open, slightly salivating.  Now imagine being able to replay that introductory hotness over and over again.  Luckily you can. Set Gnarly Charlies’ Time Machine to repeat and keep creepin’.

Check out Gnarly Charlies on Facebook
And purchase the album on iTunes